JPH08340431A - Image filing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To input retrieval information and to easily grasp the contents of recorded information by retrieving image information corresponding to image information from stored image information. CONSTITUTION: When a document is a recording sheet, information on the recording sheet 1101 is recognized by a reader part and recorded on an optical disk. At this time, image data of a sheet of ordinary documents which are read just before are recorded on a magnetooptic disk while made to correspond to image document names entered into the document name entry field of the recording sheet 1101. Then a printer part prints out a retrieval sheet according to the setting contents of a mark sheet setting field 1123 and when all the documents are read completely, this process is ended. When the read document is the retrieval sheet, on the other hand, image data corresponding to the image document name in the display field of the retrieval are retrieved by a file part from the magnetooptic disk, the image data are outputted by the printer part, and this process is ended.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image filing apparatus which records image information (image data) on a recording medium and retrieves and outputs the recorded information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image filing device (including an electronic filing device) having functions of recording, searching and outputting image information and document information, information such as a document and an image is digitized. A keyword for searching such as a document file number is added to the information, and the information is recorded as a database. Then, the recorded information is searched and output by displaying the document file number or the image itself on the display, and the operator of the apparatus selects from among them.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional image filing apparatus, the recorded information is searched only by using the document file number or the image itself as a clue, and thus the search work is not always easy. . That is, in a search using a uniform keyword such as a document file number, there is a problem that the content of the recorded information is difficult to understand from the keyword itself, and the user's search work is heavy. Further, the search by image has a problem that it takes a lot of time to display and search the image.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to easily input search information and grasp the contents of recorded information, and to obtain desired information with a small burden and a short time. An object is to provide an image filing device that can be searched in time.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an image filing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises image information input means for reading a document and inputting it as image information.
From image information input means for inputting image information, correspondence storage means for storing the input image information and the input image information in association with each other, and image information stored in the correspondence storage means And a search means for searching image information corresponding to the image information.

In order to achieve the same object, the image filing apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention has the structure according to claim 1, wherein the read original is a predetermined recording sheet in which image information is described. If the original is the predetermined recording sheet, the image information inputting means determines whether the original sheet is the recording sheet or not, based on the input image information. It is characterized in that the described image information is input.

In order to achieve the same object, an image filing device according to a third aspect of the present invention is, in the configuration of the first or second aspect, provided with display means for displaying image information, and the search means is stored in the memory. The search is performed by displaying the image information on the display means.

In order to achieve the same object, an image filing device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention has the structure according to any one of the first to third aspects in which information corresponding to the input image information is described. It is characterized by including a search sheet creating means for creating a predetermined search sheet, and the searching means performs the search based on information described in the created search sheet.

In order to achieve the same object, an image filing apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention has the configuration according to the fourth aspect, in which whether or not the read original is the predetermined search sheet is input. If the document is determined to be the predetermined search sheet by the determination means, the search means determines an image corresponding to the information described in the search sheet. Characterized by retrieving information.

[0010]

According to the image filing apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, a document is read and input as image information, image information is input, and the input image information and the input image information correspond to each other. Attached and memorized,
Image information corresponding to the image information is retrieved from the stored image information.

According to the image filing apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, whether the read original is a predetermined recording sheet in which image information is described is determined based on the input image information. If it is determined that the document is the predetermined recording sheet, the image information described on the recording sheet is input.

According to the image filing apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, the stored image information is displayed on the display means to search the image information.

According to the image filing apparatus of claim 4 of the present invention, a predetermined search sheet in which information corresponding to the input image information is described is created, and the information described in the created search sheet is created. The search is performed based on.

According to the image filing apparatus of the fifth aspect of the present invention, whether or not the read original is the predetermined search sheet is determined based on the input image information, and the original is the above-mentioned original. When it is determined that the search sheet is the predetermined search sheet, the image information corresponding to the information described in the search sheet is searched.

[0015]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image filing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The reader unit 1 reads a document and outputs the read image information (hereinafter referred to as “image data”) to the printer unit 2 and the image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 records an image corresponding to the image data from the reader unit 1 and the image input / output control unit 3 on a recording sheet (not shown). The image input / output control unit 3 is connected to the reader unit 1, and includes a facsimile unit 4, a file unit 5, a magneto-optical disk drive unit 6 as an external storage device, a computer interface unit 7, a formatter unit 8, an image memory unit 9, and a core. The unit 10 and the hard disk 12 are included.

The facsimile unit 4 expands the compressed image data received via the telephone line and transfers the expanded image data to the core unit 10. On the other hand, the facsimile unit 4
The image data transferred from the core unit 10 is compressed, and the compressed image data thus compressed is transmitted to the outside via a telephone line. A hard disk 12 is connected to the facsimile section 4, and the hard disk 12 can temporarily store the received compressed image data. The file section 5 is
A memory 506 and a CPU 516 are provided, and the image signal from the reader unit 1 is temporarily stored in the memory 506, and C
Based on the image data stored in the memory 506, the PU 516 determines whether the original is a predetermined sheet by a method called pattern matching described later.
An external storage device 6 is connected to the file unit 5, and the file unit 5 compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10 and a keyword for searching the image data (including an image document name described later). The data is stored in the magneto-optical disk 521 set in the external storage device (magneto-optical disk drive unit) 6 in association with. The file unit 5 also searches the compressed image data stored in the magneto-optical disk 521 based on the keyword transferred via the core unit 10, reads out the searched compressed image data, expands it, and expands it. The transferred image data is transferred to the core unit 10. The computer interface unit 7 is a personal computer or a workstation (PC / W
S) 11 is an interface between the core unit 10.
The formatter unit 8 develops the code data representing the image transferred from the PC / WS 11 into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 2, and the image memory unit 9 stores the code data in the PC / WS 11.
Temporarily stores the data transferred from. Core part 10
The core unit 10 controls the flow of data among the reader unit 1, the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, the computer interface unit 7, the formatter unit 8 and the image memory unit 9, as will be described later in detail. is there.

Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIG. 2 in addition to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2. The document feeding device 101 of the reader unit 1 feeds documents one by one from the last page onto the platen glass 102, and after the document reading operation is completed, the platen glass 102 is fed.
Eject the original document above. When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 102, the lamp 103 is turned on, and the scanner unit 104 starts moving to expose and scan the document.
The reflected light from the document at this time is reflected by the mirrors 105, 106,
It is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as “CCD”) 109 by 107 and a lens 108. In this way, the image of the scanned original is read by the CCD 109. The image data output from the CCD 109 is
After being subjected to a predetermined process, it is transferred to the printer unit 2 and the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3.

The laser driver 221 of the printer unit 2 drives the laser emitting unit 201, and causes the laser emitting unit 201 to generate laser light according to the image data output from the reader unit 1. This laser light is applied to the photosensitive drum 20.
2 is irradiated, and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202. The developer is attached to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 202 by the developing device 203. Then, at the timing synchronized with the start of laser beam irradiation, the recording paper is fed from either the cassette 204 or the cassette 205 and conveyed to the transfer unit 206, and the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 202 is transferred to the recording paper. Transcribed. The recording paper on which the developer is placed is conveyed to the fixing unit 207, and the fixing unit 2
The developer is fixed on the recording paper by the heat and pressure of 07. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is discharged by a discharge roller 208, and a sorter 220 stores the discharged recording paper in each bin and sorts the recording paper. The printer unit 2 is configured to be able to set various modes related to output, and the sorter 220 stores the recording paper in the uppermost bin when sorting is not set in the above modes. When double-sided recording is set in the above mode, the recording paper is conveyed to the discharge roller 208, and then the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed to cause the flapper 209 to rotate.
Leads to the re-feeding conveyance path. Further, when the multiple recording is set in the above mode, the recording paper is ejected from the roller 2
The flapper 209 guides the sheet to the re-feeding conveyance path 210 so as not to convey it to 08. The recording paper guided to the re-feeding conveyance path 210 is fed to the transfer unit 206 at the above-described laser light irradiation start timing.

Next, the reader unit 1 will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the reader unit 1. C
The image data output from the CD 109 is the CCD 109
The A / D / SH unit 110 connected to performs analog / digital conversion and shading correction. The image data processed by the A / D / SH unit 110 is transferred to the printer unit 2 via the image processing unit 111 connected to the A / D / SH unit 110, and the image data is input via the interface unit 113. It is transferred to the core unit 10 of the output control unit 3. The CPU 114 is connected to the image processing unit 111, the operation unit 115, the memory 116, and the interface 113, and controls the image processing unit 111 and the interface 113 according to the setting contents set by the operation unit 115. For example, when the copy mode in which the operation unit 115 performs the trimming process to perform the copy is set, the CPU 114 causes the image processing unit 111 to perform the trimming process and transfers the image data to the printer unit 2.
Also, a control command according to the facsimile transmission mode is transferred to the core unit 10 by the operation unit 115. Such a control program of the CPU 114 is stored in the memory 116, and the CPU 114 performs control while referring to the memory 116. Further, the memory 116 is the CPU 114.
It is also used as a work area.

The reader unit 1 further includes an operation panel 700. FIG. 4 shows the operation panel 700. In the figure, the display unit 701 displays the operating state of the reader unit 1, a message to the operator, and the like. The surface of the display unit 701 is a touch panel, and is configured such that the operator can perform a selection process including an information search described later by touching the displayed specific portion with a finger or the like. Numeric keypad 70
Reference numeral 2 is a key for inputting numbers. The operator uses the start key 703 to cause the reader unit 1 to start a document reading operation, and the operation mode switching key 704 to cause a desired operation.

Next, the core portion 10 will be described in detail.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the core section 10 and related elements. The core unit 10 includes an interface 120, an interface 122, a data processing unit 121, and a CPU 1.
23 and memory 124, and interface 12
Reference numeral 0 connects the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, the computer interface unit 7, the formatter unit 8 and the image memory unit 9. The data processing unit 121 is connected to the interfaces 120 and 122, and the CPU 123 controls the interfaces 120 and 122.
And a memory 124 is further connected to the CPU 123. The image data from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 via the interface 122, and the control command from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the CPU 123. The data processing unit 121 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing, and the image data transferred from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 121 corresponds to the control command transferred from the reader unit 1. Then, it is transferred to the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, and the computer interface unit 7 via the interface 120. Code data representing an image input via the computer interface 7 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 via the interface 120 and then transferred to the formatter unit 8 to be expanded into image data. Processing unit 1
21 is transferred to the printer unit 2 connected to the facsimile unit 4 and the reader unit 1. The image data from the facsimile unit 4 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then to the printer unit 2, the file unit 5, and the computer interface unit 7. Further, the image data from the file unit 5 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then to the printer unit 2, the facsimile unit 4, and the computer interface unit 7. The CPU 123 performs such control according to the control program stored in the memory 124 and the control command transferred from the reader unit 1. The memory 124 is also used as a work area for the CPU 123. In this way, it is possible to perform complex processing such as reading of a document image, image printing, image data transmission / reception, image data storage, and data input / output from a computer, centered on the core unit 10.

Next, the flow of image data or document data recording and retrieval operations according to this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the image recording / searching process according to this embodiment. According to this flow chart, the originals to be read by the reader unit 1 are a normal original (a document in which a document is written), a recording sheet (described later), and a search sheet (described later), and the processing is different.

First, the case of a normal original will be described. The operator inserts the magneto-optical disk 521 into the external storage device 6, and the operation mode switching key 704 "File"
By selecting the key, the display unit 701 is switched to the file mode, and the recording and searching are enabled. The operator makes initial settings such as a document reading mode on the operation panel 700 (step S601). It should be noted that this may be omitted and all the set values may be set as defaults. Next, the original is placed on the original feeding device 101,
By pressing the start key 703 (step S60
2) Proceeding to step S603, one sheet of the original placed on the original feeding apparatus 101 is conveyed onto the original table glass surface 102, the original information is read by the reader unit 1, and the read original information is an image. Memory 5 of file unit 5 as data
It is temporarily recorded in 06. Next, in step S604, the CPU 5 determines whether the original read by the reader unit 1 is a normal original, a recording sheet, or a search sheet based on the image data recorded in the memory 506.
16 determines by pattern matching. The pattern matching method will be described later. Next, based on this determination result, it is determined whether or not the document is a search sheet (step S605), and when it is not the search sheet, it is further determined whether or not the document is a recording sheet (step S606).
Here, since it is assumed that the original is a normal original, step S60
5 and S606 are both negative (NO), the process proceeds to step S607, the image data of the original is recorded on the magneto-optical disk 521 according to the mode setting, and the number of recorded originals is counted up (step S608). It is determined whether or not reading of all the originals placed on the original feeding device 101 has been completed (step S609), and if there are still unread originals, the above-described step S609 is performed.
Returning to step 603, on the other hand, if the reading of all the originals has been completed, this processing ends.

Now, the recording sheet will be described.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the recording sheet (file recording sheet) 1101. 1111 to 1116 in the figure
Is a pattern for mark sheet detection. The document name entry field 1121 is an entry field for the image document name, and the user can freely enter the title of the document here by handwriting. The image document name corresponds to a keyword serving as a clue for searching image data later, and is recorded as image data in association with image data of a normal document.
The recording setting column 1122 is a mark column for setting the image resolution, density, and image quality, and the mark sheet setting column 1
Reference numeral 123 is a mark field for setting the mark sheet. In the search sheet print field of the mark sheet setting field 1123, whether or not to print the search sheet can be arbitrarily set. The image code 1131 contains
Information such as the type of recording sheet is described.

Next, the mark sheet 1201 for search (search sheet 1201) will be described.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the format of the search sheet 1201 used for the search in the file section 5.

This sheet has detection patterns 1211, 1 for detecting whether it is a search sheet on the right side or the lower side.
212, 1213, 1214, 1215, 1216 and a document information display column 1220 are provided. Document information display field 1
In 220, the document ID, document name, document number, access date, update date, number of images, paper size, etc. are displayed.
The document name, document number, etc. may be registered at the time of image recording or after image recording. Further, the automatic print setting field 1221 after the search is the mark field 12 for actually marking.
22 and 1223, and the mark column 1222 is the setting column 12
This is a field that is defaulted when the marking 21 is omitted. You can change this default setting,
The change may be made in units of the magneto-optical disk 521 or in units of documents. If the mark field 1223 is not marked, for example, after the search, one copy of the document having the document name “document sample” is automatically printed out. When the mark field 1223 is marked, only the search is performed and the automatic printing is not performed. The display column 1224 displays the image document name, and the display column 1225
A handwritten image is displayed on the recording sheet 1101.
An image that is the same as or corresponding to the image document name entered in the document name entry field 1121 is displayed.
This image serves as a clue when searching the image data using the search sheet 1201. Image 1
Reference numeral 226 represents the output of the image data of the document recorded with the document name “document sample”.
27 indicates that it is the first of the six images. Display 1
Reference numeral 228 indicates the paper size of the recorded image data.
Display 1229 shows the resolution of the recorded image data. Although FIG. 8 shows an example in which the first recorded image is pasted, a plurality of image data may be pasted. A display 1230 shows the disc name of the recording medium, and a display 1231 shows the date and time information when the search sheet 1201 was created and output. In the image code 1232, search information for specifying a document, such as a type of search sheet, a disk name such as “image input / output device”, a document name such as “document sample”, is described.

Next, the case where the original is a recording sheet will be described.

The recording sheet 1101 is usually placed at the end of the original stack and is read immediately after the processing of all the normal originals is completed.

In steps S601 to S606, the same processing as that for a normal original is performed.

The pattern matching in step S604 will be described.

First, the CPU 516 checks whether or not a predetermined pattern exists at a predetermined position on the memory 506. Next, each examined pattern is compared with a template pattern prepared in advance to determine whether the image data stored in the memory 506 is a predetermined mark sheet (recording sheet 1101 or search sheet 1201). To do. When the mark sheet is a predetermined mark sheet, the image code 1232 and each mark column, which are the description information on the mark sheet, are read. These pieces of information are obtained from offset coordinates from a reference position on a mark sheet defined in advance. Here, the determination as to whether or not a mark is written in the mark field is performed, for example, by counting the number of black pixels in the mark field and determining whether or not the number of black pixels exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Returning to the flow chart, since it is assumed that the document to be read is a recording sheet here, step S606.
Is affirmative (YES), the reader unit 1 recognizes the information entered on the recording sheet 1101 and the optical disc 521
(Step S610). At that time, the image data of the normal document stack read immediately before reading the recording sheet 1101 is recorded on the magneto-optical disk 521 in association with the image document name entered in the document name entry field of the recording sheet 1101. Next, in step S611, the printer unit 2 prints out the search sheet 1201 in accordance with the setting contents of the mark sheet setting field 1123, and in step S609, it is determined whether or not all the originals have been read, and the reading is not performed. If there is a document that has not been completed, the process returns to step S3, while if all the documents have been read, this process ends.

Next, a case where the read document is a search sheet will be described.

In steps S601 to S605, the same processing as that for a normal original is performed. Since the read document is the search sheet here, the answer to step S605 is affirmative (YES), and the process proceeds to step S612.
The file unit 5 searches the magneto-optical disk 521 for image data and document data corresponding to the image document name in the display field 1225 of the search sheet 1201. Then, the retrieved image data is output by the printer unit 2 (step S613), and this processing ends.

By the processing of FIG. 6, the image data can be recorded in association with the search information by a simple handwriting operation, and the recorded image data can be searched easily and in a short time. The burden can be reduced.

Further, by using the search sheet, it is possible to perform a search without a display device. Further, since the reading section for a normal original, the recording sheet and the search sheet are made common, the structure of the apparatus is simplified. Can be converted.

The image data can be searched by selecting it on the display device without using a search sheet. This will be described below.

FIG. 9 shows a display unit 70 on the operation panel 700.
1 shows one mode of screen display in the image document search mode displayed in FIG.

In the figure, display fields 1401 to 1404, operation fields 1405 to 1407, etc. are displayed. Display column 14
On 03, the image document name entry field 1121 of the recording sheet 1101 is filled in and the image document name recorded on the magneto-optical disk 521 is read out and displayed, and the operator touches the operation field 1405 with a finger, The highlighted image document name is selected, and the selection is displayed in the display field 1401 by a predetermined mark. When the operator touches the operation field 1407, the image document name displayed in reverse is moved up and down and changed. A display field 1402 displays the number of the image document name, and the display field 14
04 displays the date when the image document was recorded. When the operator touches the operation field 1406, the image data corresponding to the selected image document name is read from the magneto-optical disk 521 and printed out from the printer unit 2.

As described above, according to the search by the image data using the display unit 701, the content of the image data is easier to understand and the desired image data is searched in a shorter time than the search by the keyword such as the document number. It is possible to reduce the burden on the searcher.

In the present embodiment, the search sheet is used as one means for searching the document, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to output it to the outside and manage it, and the reader unit 1 can read it. For example, the appearance of the size and shape does not matter.

Further, although the image data to be recorded is optically read in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and recording, retrieval, and recording according to the present invention can be performed on image data obtained by other means. Output processing may be similarly applied.

[0050]

According to the image filing apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the image information inputting means for inputting the document as the read image information, the image information inputting means for inputting the image information, and the input image information. And correspondence information storing means for storing the input image information in association with each other, and searching means for searching the image information corresponding to the image information from the image information stored in the correspondence storage means. Therefore, when recording the information, it is possible to easily input the search information, and it is possible to easily grasp the content of the recorded information, so that the burden of the information search operation can be reduced and the search time can be shortened.

Further, according to the image filing apparatus of claim 2 of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the read document is a predetermined recording sheet in which image information is described based on the input image information. If the document is determined to be the predetermined recording sheet by the determining means, the image information inputting means inputs the image information described in the recording sheet. The information can be easily input and the device can be further simplified.

Further, according to the image filing apparatus of claim 3 of the present invention, it is provided with display means for displaying image information,
Since the search means performs the search by displaying the stored image information on the display means, the search work becomes easier.

Further, according to the image filing apparatus of claim 4 of the present invention, it is provided with a search sheet creating means for creating a predetermined search sheet in which information corresponding to the input image information is described, and the search means. Since the search is performed based on the information described in the created search sheet, the information search and output work becomes easier and the burden on the operator can be reduced.

According to the fifth aspect of the image filing apparatus of the present invention, a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the read original is the predetermined search sheet is provided based on the input image information. If the determination unit determines that the document is the predetermined search sheet,
Since the search means searches the image information corresponding to the information described in the search sheet, the information search and output work becomes easier, and the burden on the operator can be reduced, and
The device can be further simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image filing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a reader unit and a printer unit according to this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a reader unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display panel of a reader unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a core unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the image filing device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a recording sheet according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a search sheet according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a display content of a display unit 701 in an image document search mode according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 reader unit 2 printer unit 3 image input / output control unit 5 file unit 6 external storage device 7 computer interface unit 8 formatter unit 10 core unit 506 memory 516 CPU 700 operation panel 701 display unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image information input means for inputting a document as read image information, an image information input means for inputting image information, and the input image information and the input image information are stored in association with each other. An image filing apparatus comprising: a corresponding storage unit; and a search unit that searches for image information corresponding to the image information from the image information stored in the corresponding storage unit. 2. A discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not the read document is a predetermined recording sheet in which image information is described based on the input image information, and the document is determined by the discriminating unit. 2. The image filing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when it is determined that is the predetermined recording sheet, the image information input means inputs the image information described on the recording sheet. 3. The display means for displaying image information is provided, and the search means performs the search by displaying the stored image information on the display means. Image filing device. 4. A search sheet creating means for creating a predetermined search sheet in which information corresponding to the input image information is described is provided, and the search means adds information to the information described in the created search sheet. The image filing device according to claim 1, wherein the search is performed based on the image filing device. 5. A discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not the read original is the predetermined search sheet based on the input image information, and the original is the predetermined search sheet by the discriminating unit. 5. The image filing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein if it is determined that the image information is found, the search means searches for image information corresponding to the information described in the search sheet.